Forest Bathing with Agnes - July

Meet us at the Nature House for a forest bathing walk led by Agnes Kedmenecz. We will be walking under half a kilometer on a wide, relatively smooth, gravel trail with minimal elevation gain. A light snack and tea will be provided at the end. There are two accessible washroom facilities in the Nature House, plenty of parking, and plenty of woods to explore. When: The walk will begin at 1:00pm and go until about 3:00pm. We encourage you to arrive 10-15 minutes early. Cost: $15 What is forest bathing? Forest bathing, forest therapy, and Shinrin-Yoku broadly means taking in the forest atmosphere with all one's senses. Not simply a walk in the woods - it’s a conscious, contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest. By immersing ourselves in nature and engaging our senses, we can reap the many benefits such as improved immune function, cardiovascular and respiratory health, and reduced stress. Facilitator: Agnes Kedmenecz Enjoying learning about, playing and being in nature and the woods has been a part of Agnes' life from a young age. Being able to share this love and peace of nature with others is the inspiration for being a Nature Bathing guide. Agnes has been delighting in the woods, sea, and wilderness of Vancouver Island since her move to Victoria in 2022. In the winter of 2023, Agnes completed her provisional certification as a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy [URL embedded]. She also holds a twenty-hour remote wilderness first aid through the Canadian Red Cross. We acknowledge the lək ̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the Nature Sanctuary stands, and the lək ̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. We respect the vital relationships of First Peoples with these lands and waters for countless generations. We are honoured to receive Indigenous guidance and welcome collaboration in stewardship and appreciation of the Nature Sanctuary.